Venue: Seville, SPAINDate: 09/01 - 11/01/2006Time: One Hour different from UK = 9 hours from MalaysiaThe Story
A city of southwest Spain on the Guadalquivir River north-northeast of Cádiz. An important settlement under the Romans, Vandals, and Visigoths, it was conquered by the Moors in A.D. 712 and later taken by Ferdinand III of Castile, who made it his royal residence in 1248. The city especially prospered after the discovery of the New World and served as the chief port of colonial trade until the early 18th century. Population: 686,000.
Points of Interest
Seville has kept much of its Moorish aspect. The Gothic cathedral (1401–1519), one of the world's largest, occupies the site of a former mosque, of which two parts remain—the Court of Oranges and the beautiful Giralda tower. The interior of the cathedral is extraordinarily rich and contains invaluable works of art and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Adjoining the cathedral is the alcazar, built (14th cent.) in Moorish style by Moorish artisans on the order of Peter I (Peter the Cruel) and rivaling the Alhambra in its exquisite decorations and splendid halls. Among the many other notable buildings of Seville are the city hall (16th cent.); the former lonja, or exchange, which contains the archives of Spanish America; the university buildings, which were formerly a large tobacco factory (scene of part of the action of Mérimée's and Bizet's Carmen); and numerous churches and private palaces. Seville is the capital of bullfighting in Spain and a center of the Andalusian Gypsies, famed for their songs and dances.
The History
The ancient Hispalis, Seville was important in Phoenician times. It was favored by the Romans, who made it a judicial center of Baetica prov. and who built the nearby city of Italica (where the emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born), of which some ruins remain. Seville continued as the chief city of S Spain under the Vandals and the Visigoths. In the 6th cent. Seville was a center of learning. Falling to the Moors in 712, it was (c.1023–1091) the seat of an independent emirate under the Abbadids and a flourishing commercial and cultural center under the Almoravids and the Almohads. In 1248, Ferdinand III of Castile conquered it after a long siege and made it his residence. It is said that 300,000 Moors, the majority of its population, left Seville at that time. With the discovery of the New World, Seville entered its greatest period of prosperity. It was the chief port of trade with the new colonies. In addition to its economic prosperity, it was the seat of a flourishing school of painting to which Velázquez, Murillo (both natives), and Pacheco belonged. In 1718, Seville was superseded as a port by Cádiz. Its economic recovery from the subsequent decline is only recent. In 1810 the French sacked the city. Seville was held by the Nationalists throughout the civil war (1936–39). The 1992 World Exposition was held at Seville. 
The Ryanair... just like AirAsia lo... cheap flights benefit the ppl... :p
The Sunrise... too bad couldnt see it from my side of window... so have to take the pic far across...
this was taken from my side... what a big different from the pic above yeah?!
The Shadow of the Flight which I was boarding in... Just right before landing on Seville's land
The Seville Airport ('Sevilla' in Spanish)
Horse ride in the city... but we dint get on it though...
Some said Spain is famous for its coffee and wine... That was My first coffee in Spain... can't remember what's the name d... something like 'lache'... :)
Personally like the night view in the city... cuz most buildings have its lights on...
The Reflection...
Traditional Spainish food... Tapas... there are mostly pork that served in Spain...
There are many bridges along the river which separated seville into two parts... one of the bridge which i visited on the first nite out...
By the riverside...
The Story... too bad cant even read them, needless to understand :p
GIRALDAthe famous tower adjoining the Cathedral of Seville, Spain. It was built (1163–84) to serve as minaret to the main mosque of Seville, on the site of which the cathedral now stands. In 1568 it was converted into a bell tower by the addition of an ornate Renaissance superstructure on the simple square Moorish tower. The original square minaret, with an interior ramp, is 197 ft (60 m) high; the superstructure adds 123 ft (37 m).
The Giralda is a former Almohad minaret converted to a bell tower in Seville, Spain. The Giralda is part of one of the most important buildings in Seville, the Cathedral, on of the largest in the world and a true jewel of the gothic and baroque styles. In its day, the Giralda, at 320 ft (97.5 meters) in height, was the tallest tower in the world. Without a doubt, it was one of the most important symbols in the city. The tower, an ancient minaret from the Almohad mosque of Seville, is constructed in several distinct parts from different cultures. The Islamic body is the oldest part. It was built in 1184 under the orders of Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur. Several old buildings, including Roman ruins were used as base materials for the construction. The Giralda has no stairs; instead, 35 ramps are used to ascend the tower. The ramps were sufficiently wide for the muezzin to ride a horse to the top of the tower to yell the Adhan, call to prayer. The copper sphere that originally topped the tower fell in an earthquake in 1365. Christians replaced the sphere with a cross and bell. Later, in the 16th century the architect Hernán Ruiz designed an belfry addition to convert the minaret to a bell tower. At the top of the addition stands a statue representing faith. The statue, standing 13 feet (4 meters) in height (23 ft (7 m) with the pedestal) crowned the top of the tower after its installation in 1568. The statue was originally called Giralda (“weathervane”) since it twists with the wind on a weathervane. With the passage of time, the tower became known as the Giralda while the statue took the name Giraldillo. The Renaissance section of the tower also contains a large inscription of Seville’s motto, NO8DO. Alfonso X of Castile gave the motto to the city when it continued to support his rule during an insurrection. A rebus, the motto means "no me ha dejado" or “it did not abandon me.”
The must-visit spot!
Closed up of the monument...
The walk way go up to the Giralda Tower... It was meant for horses back then... there are 31levels if am not mistaken...
This is what i could see from the top of the tower...
The City of Sevilla...
Giralda during Sunset
Giralda at Nite
Torre Del Oro
The Torre del Oro (Spanish for "Tower of the Gold") is a military watchtower built in Seville, Spain during the Almohad dynasty in order to control access to the city via the Guadalquivir river. The tower was built as part of the defensive works running from the Alcázar to the river. The tower may have received its name from the golden tiles which cover its dome and may have once adorned the rest of the tower. Constructed in the first third of the 13th century, it has twelve sides, and from its base a chain would be stretched, underwater, across the river to another fort on the opposite shore, thereby preventing enemy ships from traveling upstream to the port of Seville. The Castilian naval force commanded by Ramón de Bonifaz broke this defense, helping Ferdinand III of Castile capture Seville in 1248. The final and highest addition to the tower was made by Sebastián Vander Borcht in 1760. The tower served as a prison during the middle ages and as a secure enclosure for the protection, at times, of precious metals periodically brought by the fleet of the Indies, another possible origin for the tower's name.
Today the tower is a naval museum, containing engravings, letters, models, instruments, and historic documents. The museum outlines the naval history of Seville and the importance of its river.
My 2nd nite out... to visit most bridges along the river...
Plaza Toros Maestranza
where the Bullfighting take place during the Spring and Summer
across the bridge...
Puente de Isabel II
Puente de Chapina
Puente de La Barqueta
It was constructed from 1989-1992 to provide access to the Expo '92 fair. It was designed by the engineers Juan J. Arenas and Marcos J. Pantale as a suspension bridge, which is supported by a single overhead beam. It spans 168 m. Barqueta bridge is today the Main Entrance to the Isla Magica theme park and Sevilla Tecnolis technology park. Puente del Alamillo
When Spain chose to host Expo '92 on a large but deserted island in the Guadalquivir River in Seville, building new bridges to the island became a big part of the Expo preparations. Four new bridges were built, of which Calatrava designed two.
The Alamillo bridge is on by far the largest scale. It is a road bridge at the north end of La Cartuja island on which the Expo was held, with a 142m high pylon that has become a landmark visible from Seville's old town.
Calatrava's original design was for a symmetrical pair of bridges either side of La Cartuja island, 1.5 km apart along the same main road. In fact only one of the two was built; alone, the Alamillo bridge's striking feature is its forcefully asymmetric design. Its single pylon inclines away from the river, and supports the 200m span with thirteen pairs of cables. The weight of the concrete and steel pylon provides a counterbalance for the bridge deck.
The single plane of cables support a beam down the middle of the road, maintaining the bridge's image of a harp. The roadway itself is cantilevered out from the beam.
Looking from Alamillo... the last shot before my camara's battery died on that nite :p
Puente de Los Remedios
The Plaza de España
Laid out in 1929 for an abortive 'Fair of the Americas', the Plaza de España and adjoining Maria Luisa Park are among the most pleasant - and impressive - public spaces in Spain. They are an ideal place to spend the middle part of the day, just ten minutes' walk to the east of the cathedral.
Today, the plaza mainly comprises government offices while the surrounding moat can be best appreciated by renting out a rowing boat. A vast semicircular complex with fountains, monumental staircases and a mass of tile work, it is quite spectacular.
The Brookes' Angles :p
The Shadows (from left...)
Karen, Calvin, Jason, PeK hOnG, Eve
Every meal ordered in Spain comes with this starter... if u keep it for another day, it wouldbe as hard as STONE!
Seville is famous for its seafoods... @ Restaurante Modesto
